Liquid-fuel burner



f Mayzs. 192s.-

y 1 671,340- c.: E. BIRD L Y L'IQUID FUEL BURNER Filed May 2, 1925 "41.61.: and

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Patented May 29, 192,8.v

'narran srares l tensa Parser erstes,

CHARLES E. BIRD, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

marino-FUEL BURNER.

Application filed May 2, 1925-. Serial No. 27,543.

revolving oil .distributing head which func-` tions to centrifugally and circumferentially distribute the oil into the path of thel vinrushing air currents, thereby effecting an thorough atomization of the liquid fuel and mixing with air' to provide a highly combustible mixture'which will readily lend i-tself to ignition. T he revolving oil distribute ing head is adjustably mounted in the air discharge opening through lwhich air is supplied to the burner, and is driven lby means of a rotary fan, secured thereto and arranged in said opening.-

The object of the invention therefore is to provide an improved oil burner. v l Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

- In the drawings there hasbeen disclosed astructure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the improved burner showing the general construction thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the revolving oil distributing head and also showing the means for adjusting the annular air gap beneath the head;

l Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, showingr the means 4provided for adjusting the position of the oil distributing head within the discharge end of the air supply trunk; and

Figure'4 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the float chamber which functions to controll the level of the oil in the distributing head.

l ';The novel oil burner-shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a. circular plate or pruning pan 5 having a pair of upwardly extending spaced parallel flanges 6 and 'l'` provided thereon to form an annular recess .to receive an annular ring or deflector wall 8 against which the liquid fuel is thrown from the revolving fuel distributing head vof the burner.

As shown in Figure 1, the burner is preferably mounted in the usual ash-pit 9 of the furnace in such a manner as to have the flames or heat from theburner strike the v water jacket 11 of the furnace adjacent its lower' portion.

An important feature of this invention resides in the novel means provided for centrifugally distributing the oil or liquid fuel at the point of combustion and at which point it is also mixed with air flowing through an annular air gap beneath the distributing head. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be -noted that the priming pan 5 is provided with a central boss 12 which is threaded to adjustably receive an enlarged nipple 13 whereby the annular air gap 14, beneath the revolving head or disc 15. of the burner, may beyaried .to increase or decrease the flow of air therethrough. Also by varying the width of the air gap 14, the outward iow or direction of the flames from the burner head may be varied to provide the most efficient arrangement for the particular type of lfurnace with which 'the burner is being used.

The revolving fuel distributing head pref' erably comprises the 'revolving member or v disc 15 which has a downwardly extending lhub 16 centrally provided thereon to receive a sleeve 17 which is suitably secured thereto so, as to rotate synchronously therewith. An

V extension 18 is provided on the hub 16 which is of suflicient length to provide a suitable bearing for the l'distributinghead 15. A bearing sleeve v19 is terminally mounted-and secured to the upper end of the oil feed pipeA 21 and is adapted to receive the extension 18 of the hub 16 to provide a bearing therefor. A suitable thrust collar or ring 22 is i seated upon the upper end of the oil pipe 21 to carry the weight of the revolving head 15 which has the lower end of the extension 18 bearing thereagainst.

The hub 16 and extension 18 are provided with a tapered socket or bore 23 in which a constant oil level is maintained, as indicated bythe dotted lne`\in Figure 2. The taper of the bore 23 is such that when the head or disc 15 is rotated, the centrifugal action of such rotation will cause the oil to-upwardly creep along the walls of the bore to the enlarged discharge end thereof after which it will be. outwardly thrown therefrom, over the surface of the disc 15 and into the path of the inrushing air flowing through the annular gap 14 beneath the disc. Such dischargingand distributing of the oil from the feed pipe over the surface of the disc l and into the path of the air will effect a thorough atomization of the fuel particles before heilig discharged into the path of the air after which it will be thoroughly mixed therewith to provide an etiicient mixture which will readily lend itself to instant combustion. By thi-s novel arrangement and kmounting of the oil distributing head, the liquid fuel will provide a means for automatically lubricating the vertical bearing provided by the extension 1,8 of the hub 1t) and the bearing sleeve 19. No care or atten tion need therefore be exercised with regard to the proper lubrication of the revolving head 15.

The means provided for rotating the head 15 when the burner is'in operation, prefer- `ably consists of mounting a plurality of vanes 24 upon the lower end of the sleeve 17 and securing them thereto so that the air draft will strike the vanes and rotate the sleeve 17 and therefore revolve the fuel distributing head 15. .,As shown in Figures 1 and 2, thf vanes 24 are preferably mounted in the air discharge opening 25 of the air trunk 26 which has its opposite Iend connected to a suitable blower or fan 27, of ordinary construction. The air discharge opening 25 is preferably encased within a housinol 28., the upper end of whichj'novides a supporting means for the priming pan 5.

seated thereon. The housing 28 is preferably provided with a downwardly extending flange 29 adapted to be received within the upright end of an elbow 31 which is suitably secured to the trunk 26. By'means of the housing 28, it will be noted that a chamber 32 will be provided around the vanes and beneath the revolving head 15. This chamber functions as an expansion chamber for .the air discharged through the discharge opening 25 of the trunk 26. From the ex.

pansion chamber 32, a suitable amount of air will bc discharged through the annular gap 14 beneath the disc or head 15 to provide an efficient combustible mixture. The flow of air through the gap 1li may be varied by adjustment of the nipple 13 or may be controlled by increasing or decreasing the pressure in the expansion chamber 32.

`The means provided for regulating the pressure in the expansion chamber 32 to `control the effective supply of air to the burner preferably-resides in' the provision of an air pipe 33 having one end' in cour munication with the air chamber 32 and its yother end preferably connected to the intake regulate the flow'of air therethrough and' therefore from the expansion chamber 32. "hen the valve 3-1 is closed, the flowof air through the gap 14 beneath the oil distributing head 15 will be increased in volume and when the valve Illis partially opened, or openedr` air circulation will be established therethrough from the expansion chamber 32, thereby decreasing the pressure in the expansion chamber with a resultant decrease inA the iiow of air through the annular gap 14. The air returned to the fan 27 by the return pipe 823 will be'heated during the operation of the burner and, when again forced to the chamber 32, will aid in the atomiza tion of the oil beyond the air gap.

,Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will'be i noted that the central bos-s 12 of the priming aor which is suspended from an arm 38 carried by the fioat chamber 39. The. overflow oil discharged from the chamber 32 into the bucket 37 will cause the arn 38 to be down` wardly moved to interrupt the supply of fuel to the float chamberas will be hereafter described.

The oil feed pipe 21 upwardly extending through the elbow 31 of the air trunk 26` is preferably centrally alined -in the air dis charge opening 25 b y means of a plurality loo of adjusting screws ll-mounted in the wall' of the'elbow 31, as particularly shown in Figure 3. By means of these adjusting screws, it will be readily seen that the vanes 24 may readily and conveniently be adjusted within the opening 25 regardless of the position of the burner. The opposite end of the feed pipe 21 is connected to the Hoat chamber 39 as shown in Figures-1 and l.

Another important feature of this invention resides in the novel means provided for maintaining a constant level of oil in the tapered bore 223 of the revolvingldistributing head 15 as sho-wn in Figure 2. `Such means preferablyconsists inthe provision of the float -chan'ihe-r $39 which is mounted at the proper lheight to maintain the desired oil level. Oil is supplied to the float chamber through a pipe 42 having one end connected to a suitable source of supply. A needle valve il-l mounted in the float chamber above the discharge opening` of the supply pipe 42 and the opening and closing of this lflU valve controls the height of the oil level in c the float chamber 39, .and therefore the level has its other end pivotally connected to a shouldered stud 45 by means vof a pivot pin 40. The upper reduced end -portion 46 of thestud 45 is seated in a bore 47 of an adjusting. nut 48 which is adjustably mounted in a threaded socket 4t) in the cover 50 of the float chamber. The lower end-portion l5l of the stud 45 is mounted in a guide 52. A coiled spring 53 is preferably coiled about the lower end-portion 5l to exert an upward force against the vStud 45, the upper shoulder thereofl being thereby held in constant contact with the lower face ofv the adjusting nut 4G so that when the latter' is adjusted in its-threaded socket, the horizontal position of the pivotal connection between the forked arm 34 and the Stud 45, or the pivot pin 40, will be relatively adjusted.- By thus raising and lowering the stud 45 and therefore the pivot pin 40, the position of the float 54, secured to the forked arm 44, will be relatively adjusted within the float chamber thereby raising or lowering the oil level therein and therefore the oil level in the tapered bore 23 of the fuel distributing head 15 of the burner. j

The needle 43 has an upwardly extending end-portion 55 which is slidably mounted in A a guide 56 provided in the cover 50 of the float chamber. The end-portion 55 upwardly extends through the cover and is adapted to be engaged by a lug 57 provided on the arm 38. A coiled spring 58 isinterposed between the cover and the arm 38 to yieldably retain the arm in' its inoperative position with the lug 57 out of Contact with the` its .contents so as to allow the spring 58 to upwardly move the arm 38 out of Contact with the needle valve so that the needle will again be opened by the movement of the float tity of oil to the burner head for proper combustion.

' T he means provided for igniting the fuel when the burner isinitially started, may be of any standard and well-known construction. In the drawings, such .means is shown as consist-ing of a spark-plug 59 removably mounted in a socket 61 provided in the plateor priming pan, 5. This spark-plug as will be noted, is preferably inverted so that it may readily be removed for cleaning or replacement atany time withouty the use of tools.

When mounted in' the socket 61 as shown, the central electrodeor contact thereof is preferably seated iu a stationary contact 6 which is connected to a suitable source of electrical energy by means of a conductor` (33. The other electrode or contact will be .grounded to the burner as is customary in devices of this kind. In order to facilitate ignition of theatomized mixture, discharged from the revolving distributing head 15, a suitable porous material or wicking 64 is provided in the annular recess in which the deflector ring or wall 8 is mounted. This wicking functions to absorb the unignited fuel thrown against the ring 8, and will thereby prevent the usual puff or small explosion of the mixture when ignition takes place. A nipple 65 is also provided adjacent the annular recess 7 to provide means for connecting a gas pipe thereto should it be desired to use gas 'for igniting the fuel` instead of spark-plug ignition. This nipple is preferably closed by means of a cap 66 when the spark-plug type of ignition is employed.

In the operation of this novel oil burning apparatus, the liquid fuel is delivered to the float chamber'39 through the pipe 42. When the float chamber 39 is empty, the float 54 will obviously be in its lowermost position thereby causing the valve 43 to be opened toA permit the entrance of oil into the lfloat chamber.`

the tapered bore 23 in the -oil distributing head. As soon as 'the oil level in the tapered bore 23 reaches the proper level, or that indicated by the dottedv lines inFigures 2 and 3..

4the float 54 will cause the valve 43 to be moved into closing position therebyapreventing the oil in the tapered bore to rise above a. predetermined level. As soon as the blower is started, the flowA of air through the trunk 26 and through the discharge opening' 25 thereof,`will causethe vanes 24 to rotate the distributing head 15 so that the liquid fuel in the'tapered bore will upwardly creep alongl the walls of the re by centrifugal force. As the oil reaches the discharge end of the tapered bore 23, it will be outwardly and circumferentially thrown' therefrom annulark gap 14 providedbeneath the head 15. Such action of the oil and air will cause From the float chamber, the oil. will flow into the oil feed pipe 21, andinto.

lll)l `over the surfaceA of the head 15 and into the 'path of the air current flowing through `,the

the former to be thoroughlyr atomized and ',139

. ing the width of the air gap ll'lbenea-th the burner head, the divergency or spread of'the flames from the burner head may be varied from substantially a horizontal plane to any inclination desired to provide the proper contact with the furnace walls for -etlicient operation.

In operation, float chamber may be dispensed with and an ordinary type of nonadjustable float chamber be used in place thereof.` IVhen such a ioatchamber is used, however, means must be provided whereby the float chamber mayv be bodily raised or lowered with reference to the tapered bore 23 thereby to raise'or lower the oil level in the taperedbore 23 of the burner head. It is to be understood that such changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tov secure by Letters-Patent, is: l

1. In a device of the class described, a vertical fuel supply pipe having a socket'at its upper end, a spreader disk having a tubular extension rotatable within the socket above said fuel supply pipe, and a thrustreceiving element interposed between and abutting the end faces of said pipe and eX- tension.

2. In a device of the class described, a vertical fuel supply pipehaving a socket at 'its upper end, a spreader disk having a tubular extension rota-table within the socket above said fuel supply pipe, and a thrustreceiving` element interposed between and abutting the end faces of said pipe and eX- tension, the bore of said extension increasing in calibre from the bottom upwardly to the upper side of the disk.

3. In a device of the class described, a vertical fuel supply pipe having a socket at its upper end, a `spreader disk having a tubular extension rotatable within the socket above said fuel supply pipe, anda sleeve dependingly secured to said spreader disk andloosely encircling said extension and supply pipe, and having radially disposed fan-blades below said spreader disk. y

4. In adevice of the class described, a ro\ tatable spreader disk, hav-ing a depending sleeve and fan blades exteriorly of the sleeve, anoil pipe as a bearing for said disk leading into said sleeve from beneath, an air. delivery conduit leading upwardly to deliver the adjustable feature of t-he against the lower side of the disk, and encircling said blades for pneumatic rotation of the disk, said conduit having an expansion chamber between said fan blades and disk, and a fan as a pump, having its pres- -sure side leading into said air conduit, and

having its suction side con'imunicating with said expansion chamber through a valve-controlled pipe.

5. In a `device of the class described, a rotatable spreader disk, having a depending sleeve and fan blades exteriorly of the sleeve, an oil pipe as a bearing` for said disk leading into said' sleeve from beneath, an air delivery conduit leading upwardly to deliver against the lower side of the disk, and encircling said bla(- s for pneumatic rotation of the disk, and a fan as an air pump, having its pressure side leading into said 4air conduit and having its suction side communicating with said air delivery conduit between said fan blades and spreader disk througha valve-controlled pipe.

(l. A device of the class described, comprising a priming pan having a central air intake nipple, a casing secured beneath said pan as an, expansion chamber, an air intake conduit having its discharge end within said chamber, a fan as a pump, having its pressure side leading into said conduit, an oil supply pipe leading vertically through said air conduit and having thereon a spreader disk disposed adjacent said nipple and forming 'therewith an annular air spreader orifice, and having a hollow stem rotatable with relation to said oil pipe, a. sleeve carried by said disk and having fan blades thereon disposed in said airconduit, and a valve-controlled pipe connecting the expansion chamber with the suction side of the fan. t

7. In a liquid fuel burner'comprising in combination, a fuel distributing head, means providing an air gap beneath the head. said means movable for adjusting the width of said gap to vary the outward spread of the flames, an air expansion Chamberlin communication with said gap, Vand means for increasing or decreasing the air pressure in the air expansion chamber' to control the effective supply of air to the gap.,

8. In a liquid fuel burner comprising in combination a rotary fuel distributing head having a fuel feed pipe in communication therewith, said fuel distributing head incliniing a circular disk having anextension centrally provided thereon, a tapered bore in said disk and said extension leading to the upper surface of said disk, a socket terminally provided upon said fuel feed pipe and adapted to rotatably receive said'exten'sion to provide a bearing therefor and for said head, and whereby said head will be supported entirely upon said feed pipe.

9. In akliqud fuel burner comprising in combination, an oi-l feed pipe centrally mounted in a closed air delivery conduit,l a liquid fuel distributing head v rotatably mounted upon said feed pipe and carried thereby, above the air conduit, means providing an annular air vgap beneath and leading upwardly around said distributing head, an air expansion chamber in said air conduit also beneath said rotary distributing head, and means for removing some of the air from the expansion chamber thereby to controlthe ow of air to the air gap.

10. In a centrifugal oil burner, the combination of' a rotatable burner head, means to supply oil to the head, means to force air past the head to atomize the oil, means to rotate the head by the forced air, and means to return a portion of said forced air to the intake of the air-forcing means whereby such re-forced air will be warmed during the operation of the burner.

11'. A device of the class described, including a priming pan having a central cylindrical' air intake nipple vertically adjustable, a spreader disk above said nipple rotatably mounted, and having a concave. upper side and an oil duct leading centrally therethrough from beneath for delivery of oil to .its upper side, the bore of said duct being upwardly flared, a sleeve carried by the disk having fan blades, an 'air pump as a fan, an

air pipe leading fromfthe pressure side of the fan and surrounding said fan blades and having its discharge end disposed for vertical delivery of air through said nipple, an expansion chamber encircling said pipe and gap between air pipe and nipple, a valvecontrolled auxiliary air pipe leading from said chamber t0 the suction side of the fan.

12, A device of the class described comprising a priming pan, `having a marginal groove, an annular member resting in the groove, a piece of absorbent material arranged within the groove at the inner lside of the annular member, a rotatable burner head adapted to deliver oil horizontally and against the upright wall of the annular member. y

13. A device of the class described comprising' a priming pan, having a marginal groove, an annular ,member resting in the groove, a piece of absorbent material arranged within the groove at the inner side member, said priming pan having a passage leading -t'o the groove on the inner side of the annular member.

In witness whereof, I have thereunto set A my hand this 29th day of April, 1925.

CHARLES E. BIRD. 

